Rodend Question

[Fishmaxx]

:?: I am presently working on a 4 link type crawler.

It seems that the swivel balls are what is presently limiting the amount of travel, and I mean the swivels themselves. The are not binding against anything :!:

The actual swivel rotates less than 45 degrees.

I am using Traxxas rod ends.

Is there a better option or mod to get more range of motion? :idea:

[jason]

to get more range you need to space the rod end out away from what it is binding on. Make sure you use a tiny spacer so it won't bind on it.

[DirkDigler]

The two best ones I've used are the Kyosho units and the XTM Xfactor ends. They are big, tough and have a connical type washer that sets them off of what they mount to, to keep them from binding. I prefer the XTM's!

[Highmark]

Guys I think his problum is that the ends arn't binding and they still don't have enough travel.It sounds like you're links arn't long enough to alow the travel you want; see depending on how far out you're links are mounted on the axle and the leangth of them you're suspinsion will get more or less travel. I seriusly doubt you'll find a ball end that will swivel anymore so if you can mount the links farther inward or build longer links.

[Fishmaxx]

:D Thanks guys.....just want say again the ends are not binding!
I will check out the XTMs ends.

I measured the amount of action the swivels by themselves and it is exactly 45 degrees.

So does this mean articulation past 90 degrees (45 front plus 45 rear= 90) the absolute max possible :?:

[roktoy]

The Traxxas ends should provide plenty of swivel movement.
Jay

[Highmark]

Not neccesarily as I said earlyer if a person was to mount the links along with the shocks as far inward on a wide axle as possible they could get an almost unlimmited amount of articulation souly off of the increases levrage. There was a yellow Willy's rock crawler in the last Top Truck Challenge that put the concept to good use.

[Fishmaxx]

Top Truck Challenge :?:

Do you have a link :?:


:D

[roktoy]

http://www.fourwheeler.com/featuredvehicles/129_0304_TTC/

[Russell]

Instead of taking the links inward towards the centre of the axle ,which causes slop and uncontrolled articulation movement,try looking at how you have the links mounted.
Try mounting the ball ends on a different plane,eg if you have the link mounted on a horizontal plane and its stalling make a mount so you can mount it on the vertical plane.
If you look at any ball end it has limited movement in a certain direction but if you swivell it around the ball end can rotae on the ball 360 dgrees.
If you play around with the mounting position you will find that the ball ends are the least of you problems.

[DirkDigler]

Also, if you mount your suspension inward like you said, you will increase travel but you will also increase the likeliness of roll overs. You will have less control with that type of fulcrum.

As for rod ends. You guys should talk to Jason about the ones he found. They are enormous!!!!